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Wet ’n wild. Explore this inundated plain with Professor Bob Siegel, ’76, MA ’77, MD ’90, enjoying unobstructed views of an incredible collection of fascinating creatures—from capybaras, caimans and jabiru storks to giant anteaters, howler monkeys and hyacinth macaws. Keep an eye out. Home to the magnificent jaguar, the Pantanal is the best place to catch sight of one of these stunning and powerful, yet elusive, animals in their natural habitat. Saddle up. Stay over at a working cattle ranch and learn how agriculture and conservation have joined forces here to work hand in hand. Over the edge. Visit breathtaking Iguazu Falls on an optional post-trip extension.

Faculty Leader(s)

Robert Siegel, ’76, MA ’77, MD ’90, has appointments in Stanford’s department of microbiology and immunology, Center for African Studies and program in human biology. He is also in charge of preclinical infectious disease curriculum at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He is on the advisory boards of numerous international organizations, including Support for International Change, Teach AIDS, Free the Children and Ocean Medicine Foundation. A published nature photographer, he is an active docent at Stanford Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve and Año Nuevo State Park. Bob has traveled with Stanford students to six continents and has been the faculty leader for Stanford Travel/Study trips to Tanzania, Papua New Guinea and the Galápagos.

"Bob Siegel was one of the highlights of the trip for us. He was always available, always interested and always interesting."

Eric Havian, '77, Africa Family Adventure, 2007

Positions:

Professor (Teaching), Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University

Affiliate, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University

SUNDAY, JULY 21CAMPO GRANDE / POUSADA AGUAPÉ Depart early this morning on a three-hour drive to the Pousada Aguapé, a working cattle ranch in the southern Pantanal. Along the way watch for giant anteaters, macaws, capybaras and caimans. Arrive at the fazenda (farm) in time for lunch. Late in the afternoon go on a game drive in search of the diverse local wildlife that call this area home. POUSADA AGUAPÉ (B,L,D)

MONDAY, JULY 22POUSADA AGUAPÉ Spend the morning on another game drive, or instead choose to explore the area of the pousada (lodge) on horseback. As it starts to get hotter in the late morning, return to the lodge and enjoy a lecture before lunch. Venture out again in the afternoon once the heat begins to subside, either taking a guided nature walk or going on a boat ride along the Rio Aquidauana. If conditions are right, we’ll go on a night safari to observe some of the nocturnal animals. POUSADA AGUAPÉ (B,L,D)

TUESDAY, JULY 23POUSADA AGUAPÉ Today learn about the challenges of cattle ranching in this seasonally flooded grassland and gain some insight on how agriculture and conservation are progressing in the area to work hand in hand. In the afternoon, take a final game drive or perhaps go fishing for piranha! POUSADA AGUAPÉ (B,L,D)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24POUSADA AGUAPÉ /PORTO JOFRE Today travel on small charter planes from the southern Pantanal to the riverine forest ecosystem of Rio Cuiabá and the northern Pantanal, where we hope to observe the elusive and majestic jaguar in the wild. Arrive at our hotel in time for lunch, then go on a boat ride along the Rio Cuiabá and the adjoining channels inside Meeting of the Waters State Park. PORTO JOFRE HOTEL (B,L,D)

THURSDAY & FRIDAY, JULY 25 & 26PORTO JOFRE / RIO CUIABÁ During the next two days, each morning will include a safari cruise on the Rio Cuiabá in search of jaguars, giant otters, tapirs and other animals. After returning to our hotel midday for lunch and some time to relax, we’ll head out again in the later afternoon on excursions in search of more intriguing species. PORTO JOFRE HOTEL (B,L,D—BOTH DAYS)

SATURDAY, JULY 27PORTO JOFRE / CUIABÁ Today we leave the river and head north on the Transpanataneiro Highway, crossing some 100+ wooden bridges that allow the highway to traverse the flooded lands. Expect to see flocks of wading birds, plus literally thousands of caimans and capybaras. Stop for lunch along the way, and arrive at our hotel in Cuiabá in the early afternoon. This evening enjoy a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant. HOTEL DEVILLE (B,L,D)

SUNDAY & MONDAY, JULY 28 & 29CUIABÁ / U.S. Transfer to the airport for overnight flights back to the U.S., arriving on Monday. (7/28: B)

Optional Extensions

IGUAZU FALLS, BRAZILJULY 28 TO 31 (4 ADDITIONAL DAYS) Fly to Iguazu Falls where our hotel sits just outside this natural spectacle. Explore the Brazilian side of these awe-inspiring falls with a trained guide, and see firsthand what makes this one of the world’s most incredible forces of nature. You can soak up a panoramic view of the falls, and then get up close with the picturesque ecosystem— a haven for flora and fauna alike. Follow the Paraná River to the binational Itaipu Dam, to take in another perspective of some of the world’s most stunning sites.

Educational program with lecture series and pre-departure materials, including recommended reading list, a selected book, map and travel information

Services of our professional tour manager to assist you throughout the program

NOT INCLUDED

International and U.S. domestic airfare

Passport and visa fees

Immunization costs

Meals and beverages other than those specified as included

Independent and private transfers

Trip-cancellation/interruption and baggage insurance

Excess-baggage charges

Personal items such as internet access, telephone calls and faxes, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services

AIR ARRANGEMENTS You are responsible for booking and purchasing airfare to the start location and from the end location of the program. These air purchases are NOT included in the program cost. To assist you in making these independent arrangements, we will send you information with your confirmation materials on when to arrive and depart.

WHAT TO EXPECT We consider this to be a moderately strenuous program, and participants should be physically fit, active and in good health. Some days require early-morning starts and/or late-evening excursions for wildlife viewing. Although there is minimal walking and game drives are quite leisurely, participants should be comfortable riding in open-air, four-wheel-drive vehicles on dusty and unpaved roads for up to three hours at a time. Participants must be able to climb in and out of these vehicles, which requires scaling a ladder. Our journey also requires travel by motorboat, small propeller airplane and minibus, the longest drives being up to six hours (broken up by lunch breaks and rest stops) often on bumpy and/ or unpaved roads. Tourism infrastructure in the Pantanal is still developing, but all of our accommodations are safe, clean and comfortable. Access to medical care and facilities is limited in remote areas but readily available in Campo Grande and Cuiabá. We expect that participants will be a self-selecting group whose appreciation for the places we visit outweighs the need for creature comforts. We welcome travelers 12 years of age and older on this program.

Terms and Conditions

EligibilityWe encourage membership in the Alumni Association as the program cost for nonmembers is $300 more than the members' price. A person traveling as a guest paid for by a current member will not be charged the nonmember fee. To purchase a membership, call (650) 725-0692 or click here for more information.

Deposits, Payments and CancellationsA $1,000 deposit is required to reserve space. Deposits and any payments are refundable, less a $500-per-person cancellation fee, until 120 days prior to departure. After that date, refunds can be made only if the program is sold out and your place(s) can be resold, in which case a $1,000-per-person cancellation fee will apply.

InsuranceStanford Travel/Study provides all travelers who are U.S. or Canadian citizens with minimal medical, accident and evacuation coverage under our group-travel insurance policy. Our group policy is intended to provide minimal levels of protection while you are traveling on this program. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to optional baggage and trip-cancellation insurance. Information offering such insurance will be mailed with your confirmation materials. The product offered includes special benefits if you postmark your insurance payment within 14 days of the date listed on the welcome letter.

ResponsibilityThe Stanford Alumni Association, Stanford University and our operators act only as agents for the passenger with respect to transportation and ship arrangements and exercise every care possible in doing so. However, we can assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity in connection with the service of any automobile, motorcoach, launch or any other conveyance used in carrying out this program or for the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the program. We cannot accept any responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, force majeure or other causes beyond our control. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide arrangements only for the time stated. We reserve the right to make such alterations to this published itinerary as may be deemed necessary. The right is reserved to cancel any program prior to departure in which case the entire payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the program. No refund will be made for an unused portion of any tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. Baggage is carried at the owner's risk entirely. It is understood that the ship's ticket, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the cruise company. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their plane or conveyance. Neither the Alumni Association, Stanford University nor our operators accept liability for any carrier's cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable ticket in connection with the tour. Program price is based on rates in effect at the time the brochure is printed and is subject to change without notice to reflect fluctuations in exchange rates, tariffs or fuel charges. As a condition of participation, all confirmed participants are required to sign a Release of Liability.